Yesterday, news broke that Tito “The Huntington Beach Bad Boy” Ortiz was forced to withdraw from his scheduled and highly publicized bout with Quinton “Rampage” Jackson at Bellator’s November 2nd Pay-Per-View event. It seems as if it’s… Read More

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Former UFC champ Tito Ortiz

By Jesse Heitz

Yesterday, news broke that Tito “The Huntington Beach Bad Boy” Ortiz was forced to withdraw from his scheduled and highly publicized bout with Quinton “Rampage” Jackson at Bellator’s November 2nd Pay-Per-View event. It seems as if it’s another dark day not only for Ortiz, but for his employer as well.

“Bellator is currently seeking a replacement for Ortiz, and it is unclear at this time whether Jackson will remain on the Nov. 2 card. There is a chance next weekend’s pay-per-view card turns into a free Spike TV card with Jackson being moved to another event.”

Ortiz himself took to Twitter, sharing a few words via Instagram before adding his own thoughts, in a restrained and ostensibly disappointed manor, stating,

“I know everything happens for a reason, but sometimes I wish I knew what that reason was.”

“Sometimes I wonder why?”

The injury bug is a difficult beast to understand and is often wholly unpredictable. Yet, we need to face facts here. Ortiz, who had been planning on coming out of retirement to battle “Rampage” Jackson, is pushing forty and has had a string of very significant injuries over that last few years. The proverbial jig was up when he had his veritably disastrous final run with the UFC. His broken body could no longer keep up with the youngsters that comprise the top levels of competition in today’s MMA world.

Ortiz is certainly a legend of the sport, a deserving hall of famer. He’s a man who helped to carry the global leader in MMA during its darkest hours with one of the most captivating personas the sport has ever seen, not to mention some of the sport’s most effective and vicious ground-and-pound ever showcased within the Octagon. Yet, he’s physically at the end of the line, and this newest injury proves it.

Ortiz was never destined to win big during his comeback, maybe rattle off a few wins so a respectable ride into the sunset was a real possibility, but we as fans didn’t really expect anything more from him. So, while his injury and possible permanent retirement is more than unfortunate, we’re left wondering about the promotion that has already invested a great deal in him.

As it stands, the planned Pay-Per-View card that was supposed to feature Ortiz vs. Jackson will now be switched over to a free television broadcast. Yet, the question remains as to whether Bellator made a critical mistake in hitching their wagon to a physically weathered legend and then spending what must have been considerable money to promote him. I suppose we’ll know in roughly one month’s time. Either way, this is a terrible situation for both Ortiz and Bellator.

Mixed Martial Arts fans could be nearing MMA overload, with Bellator and the UFC ramping up events for the fall.

As part of UFC Fight Night Teixeira vs. Bader, which is live from Brazil… Read More

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Glover Teixeira

By Michael Hatamoto

Mixed Martial Arts fans could be nearing MMA overload, with Bellator and the UFC ramping up events for the fall.

As part of UFC Fight Night Teixeira vs. Bader, which is live from Brazil on September 4, UFC light heavyweights Glover Teixeira and contender Ryan Bader battle it out.

When this fight is standing, expect Teixeira to use his solid foot work and accurate jab to keep Bader on the defensive. Just because Teixeira has the better boxing, I believe Bader has more power and could be more likely to finish the fight using his heavy hands.

Bader will have the clear wrestling and takedown advantage, but he’ll have to defend against Teixeira’s overlooked grappling ability. I don’t expect Bader to spend that much time sitting on top of Teixeira, and would be more interested in wearing him down.

After losing to Jon Jones and Tito Ortiz, Bader has beaten Jason Brilz and Quinton Jackson, was knocked out by Lyoto Machida, and rebounded by choking out Vladimir Matyushenko.

Since joining the UFC in 2012, Teixeira has beaten Kyle Kingsbury, Fabio Maldonado, Quinton Jackson, and James Te Huna. The Brazilian fighter is now ranked in the top 10 and a victory against Bader could help solidify recent calls for him to be given a top five opponent.

This will be a fun fight for fans, as it’s possible both fighters are going to want to stand and exchange punches. Teixeira should be able to land cleaner shots on a more frequent basis, but will need a continue build up punches – but Bader has the ability to land the haymaker out of nowhere.

I fully believe Bader is a tough, scrappy veteran that could overcome Teixeira, but I feel the Brazilian light heavyweight has simply too much to prove right now.

As many readers are undoubtedly already well-aware, Tito Ortiz is making his return to the cage once again, this time for the UFC’s closest competition, Bellator.We’ve chattered on and on about his return… Read More

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Tito Ortiz

By Jesse Heitz

As many readers are undoubtedly already well-aware, Tito Ortiz is making his return to the cage once again, this time for the UFC’s closest competition, Bellator.We’ve chattered on and on about his return to primetime MMA with his planned November bout with Quinton “Rampage” Jackson.We’ve discussed all things Tito Ortiz in the last few weeks, typically such clamoring is warranted when it concerns the return of legends.However, this piece will take on a whole new tone.

“It was just one of those things.You can’t trust a word the man says.If you can’t do that, how can you work for him?You work for a person and they’re bad-mouthing you no matter what, how can you work for them?You apologize for the things that did happen and he still goes behind your back and says things about you that…no reason for at all.That’s when it’s time to say, you know.”

“Now one of the biggest things is bullying, and he’s one of the biggest bullies, I’d say, in the business.He’s a big bully.One of these days, Karma is a B and it always comes back around.”

Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure Dana White is not the world’s greatest boss.He might very well be an absolutely miserable boss.Yet, his job as the promoter of the largest MMA company in the world isn’t to be a fighter’s best friend, it’s to organize and hype fights.He flaps his gums without tiring; he routinely shoots from the hip.This might be upsetting and he says things he shouldn’t, things that may infuriate others.I’d venture to guess this is a hallmark trait of successful promoters and is not merely limited to Dana White.

However, For Ortiz to compare his employer-employee relationship with White as “slavery”, that’s simply absurd.Tito Ortiz became a multi-millionaire through the UFC, becoming one of its highest paid fighters ever.Certainly, his relationship with White must not have been that bad when during his final stint with the company he went 1-7-1 over nearly six years, and not only maintained his job, but bagged incredible paydays.Sure sounds like a rotten deal to me.

For Ortiz, it’s time to move on.He needs to quit jawing like a spoiled child, or a professional wrestler depending on the given moment, and focus on fighting.Take the high road.If his feelings are that hurt, what better way to show up his former boss than by winning fights, making himself relevant, and drawing strong numbers for Bellator?

In recent pieces I have discussed the impending MMA return of Tito “The Huntington Beach Bad Boy” Ortiz with a planned November bout against Quinton “Rampage” Jackson in Bellator.I have also briefly talked… Read More

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UFC Hall of Famer Tito Ortiz didn't do his legacy any justice during his recent apperance on Spike TV's telecast of TNA wrestling.

By Jesse Heitz

In recent pieces I have discussed the impending MMA return of Tito “The Huntington Beach Bad Boy” Ortiz with a planned November bout against Quinton “Rampage” Jackson in Bellator.I have also briefly talked about his infiltration of professional wrestling.In this article, we’ll delve deeper into the remnants of Tito Ortiz’s career.

Before this discussion goes any farther, I must admit that I’m an unashamed professional wrestling fan. Certainly, this makes many self-conscious MMA fans cringe.Shrieks of “pro wrestling is fake” ring out.Let’s be honest here, if you’re in my age group, you were being indoctrinated in the ways of Hulkamania before you could walk.You were watching Andre “The Giant”, Jake “The Snake” Roberts, and “The Macho Man” Randy Savage, apply their trade with your father, maybe even attempting to apply an elbow drop on one of your unsuspecting siblings.

While I am an ardent MMA fan, I’m also a professional wrestling purist.Now, contrary to how this story appears to be unfolding, this discourse does not necessarily revolve around pro wrestling, but rather, the career of Tito Ortiz.A decade ago, Tito Ortiz was among the best fighters on the planet, he ruled the UFC’s Light Heavyweight division.He was one of the sport’s premier earners and arguably its most recognizable face.

Today, the landscape is much different.Tito is rapidly approaching the age of 40.He’s battered, bruised, and scarred.In his most recent appearance for professional wrestling promotion TNA, he moved around like a man double his age.There is no denying that years of continual training, fighting, and repeated injuries, take their toll on the body.However, it’s disheartening to see a man, still young in many respects, looking to be thoroughly worn out.

Yet, what’s more saddening is to see one of the most prolific fighters of his generation, the man that engaged in epic battles with the likes of: Chuck Liddell, Randy Couture, and Vitor Belfort, have to resort to entering into pro wrestling in order to drum up interest in his upcoming fight.

When he enters the TNA arena, you hear nothing but crickets.Even when thrust into the center of an angle that would draw considerable heat from the audience, the fans seem to be entirely uninterested, bored even.He seems awkward and unnatural in the role of professional wrestling personality, to be sure, he’s not a professional wrestler.It’s not his business, MMA is.The fans know it, and he undoubtedly must know it.

It’s always difficult and perhaps even pretentious to call on a fighter, particularly an iconic one, to hang it up.Yet, short of fighting B-level talent in regional MMA promotions, Ortiz is going to have significant difficulty in notching wins at this point in his career.The simple truth is that Ortiz’s time as a relevant headliner has come and gone.His foray into professional wrestling is a testament to that reality.It’s high time for Tito Ortiz to abandon the physical aspects of his longtime trade.It’s time for him to ride off into the sunset and take his place as one of the sport’s greatest stars.

In November, Bellator plans to air its very first pay-per-view event (more information on this event can be found here on Full Contact Fighter). This transformation is rather groundbreaking for the relative upstart Bellator, which has been… Read More

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Quinton "Rampage" Jackson

By Jesse Heitz

In November, Bellator plans to air its very first pay-per-view event (more information on this event can be found here on Full Contact Fighter). This transformation is rather groundbreaking for the relative upstart Bellator, which has been content with airing its cards on cable television. Today’s piece inevitably centers on the bout which Bellator hopes will launch their pay-per-view business.
Bellator is betting big, something that cannot be overstated, that legendary fighters can catapult its first pay-per-view card into prosperity. That’s right, if you haven’t already heard, the card that constitutes Bellator’s first foray into the pay-per-view MMA market is set to be anchored by a fight between Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and Tito “The Huntington Beach Bad Boy” Ortiz.
Naturally, this fight, despite it featuring Tito’s return from a particularly brief retirement, has received a chorus of yawns from the majority of fans, as well as a significant amount of criticism from those who could actually be counted among the interested minority of fans. In a recent Bellator MMA press conference, the proceedings published by MMAfighting.com, Jackson chimed in on the prevailing storm of criticism, stating,

“Me and Tito have been taking hits from some of the MMA fans and it’s not right for a lot of never-will-bes and never-gonna-bes to call Tito and I has beens. You know what I’m saying? You guys should really smack yourselves for saying that.”

Perhaps Jackson is correct, nevertheless it’s a response clouded by emotion. Let’s be honest about this fight and the relative positions of these two iconic fighters. Certainly, applying the term “has beens” to Tito Ortiz and “Rampage” Jackson is downright slanderous given that they’re two of the most successful and beloved, or loathed depending on your fandom persuasion, nevertheless it cannot be denied that they are beyond their prime.

Tito Ortiz is 2-7-1 in his last ten fights, dating all the way back to his 2006 TKO win over Ken Shamrock. On top of that, he’s 38 and by his own admission has had nearly every body part surgically repaired in that time span. “Rampage” Jackson on the other hand is 2-3 in his last five fights, and hasn’t notched a win since May of 2011. Additionally, he’s 35, and while age alone doesn’t determine if a fighter is over the hill, his recent 0-3 skid coupled with his age tends to support the case that he’s no longer in his prime.

Part of me questions this particular strategy of Bellator. It’s highly likely that the fame of these two aging MMA superstars can attract not only nostalgic fans, but possibly a bevy of casual fans or potential converts. However, these two legends don’t have many fights left in them, so while a fight between these two, if they can stay healthy, will attract viewers, the long term viability of Bellator rests on showcasing their own home-grown talent.

Bellator has the connections and resources to secure the status as the undisputed number two MMA promotion in the world, but the methodology of its entrance into the pay-per-view MMA market seems to be a little misguided. While I’m a sucker for nostalgia and would tune in to see Jackson vs. Ortiz, it’s the epitome of an irrelevant fight. As such, I’d much rather watch a “stacked” Bellator card, one filled to the brim with young and exciting fighters still in their prime, rather than two old legends who have both been recently drummed out of the promotion Bellator is attempting to challenge.

For nearly 16 years, Dan Henderson has been a staple of Mixed Martial Arts. He’s had legendary battles with the likes of: Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, Wanderlei “The Axe Murderer” Silva, Fedor “The Last Emperor” Emelianenko, Mauricio “Shogun” Rua, Anderson “The Spider” Silva, Vitor “The Phenom” Belfort, Rich “Ace” Franklin, and even both of the Nogueira brothers. “Hendo” is certainly on the shortlist for the all-time greats of this magnificent sport.

However, the last calendar year hasn’t been very kind to UFC and Pride veteran, Dan Henderson. Last September he was scheduled to take on UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jon “Bones” Jones at UFC 151, before being forced to withdraw following a knee injury. Upon his return to action in February of 2013 at UFC 157, he suffered a controversial, to say the least, split decision loss to Lyoto Machida.

To be certain, this is by no means a eulogy for the incredible career of Dan Henderson. There are those that would argue that realistically his days as a title contender are over. I am not of such an opinion, but rather that at the spry age of 42, he’s still as “Dangerous” as ever.

At an age when many professional fighters would have hung up their gloves, or when the select few that remained active would be relegated to gatekeeper duty, Henderson sits in an entirely different position altogether. He’s not only sizing up the best 205-pounder in the world, he’s arguably one quality win away from challenging Jon Jones for the title.

In a recent interview with Bleacher Report, Henderson commented on his upcoming bout with Rashad Evans at UFC, stating,

“I feel like if I do have an impressive win then I’m right back in there. I think a not so great performance but a win does something for me, but not a lot. I’m sure I’ll just fight somebody else at that point. An impressive win over Rashad would possibly put me right in there. That’s still one of my goals, that’s why I’m doing this.”
“I definitely have some unfinished business with Jon Jones. Hopefully that happens for myself, Jon Jones and the fans.”

Should such a title fight materialize, some might very well question the aging veteran’s chances against an utterly dominant champion nearly two decades his junior. Yet, I occupy the position that that the iron-chinned and heavy-handed wrestler is one of the more viable options to dethrone the current UFC Light Heavyweight kingpin. In the end, there’s only one way to see if my position is that of sheer lunacy, or if “Hendo” is the man to give Jones his stiffest test to date.